'Smart folder' for Windows

lil.sipsi

Hi all,

I have been trying to find a way to have all the PDFs (which have been renamed by Zotero) in one folder for easy search. On this page https://www.zotero.org/support/attaching_files#stored_files_and_linked_files, it is suggested that 'If you prefer to find files without going through Zotero, you can use your operating system's search features (e.g., Spotlight on macOS) or create a smart folder in your OS to show a list of all PDFs within your Zotero data directory and interact with the files directly'.

I do apologise for this low-tech question, but if I have Windows, is there a possibility to create such 'smart folder'?

Thanks a lot ~

tim820

A "smart folder" does not actually *put* all your PDFs in a single folder. It simply displays them in one place in File Manager in your OS, by saving the file search. The PDFs remain in their individual folders under the Zotero\storage hierarchy.

You create such a smart folder in Windows by going to the Zotero\storage folder in File Explorer. Then in the search box in the top taskbar you search for *.pdf. When the search completes and you can see all your PDFs in the window, right-click and select Save Search. That will save that search as a "smart folder". By default Windows saves the search folder under "Searches".

If instead you really want all your PDFs to be *located* in a single folder, you have to convert them to "linked" files. Most people manage linked files with the Zotmoov or Attanger plugin. Linked files have limitations as described below: they don't work with the Zotero mobile apps, the web library, or Groups.
https://www.zotero.org/support/attaching_files#stored_files_and_linked_files

lil.sipsi

Thank you! Just what I needed.

Appreciate this so much ~